3.2 Fatty Acids 163Table 3.7.Unsaturated fatty acids
Abbreviated Structure Common name Melting
designation point
(◦C)
A. Fatty acids with nonconjugated cis double bonds
ω9-Family
18:1 (9) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 7 −CH=CH−CH 2 −(CH 2 ) 6 −COOH Oleic acid 13. 4
22:1 (13) −(CH 2 ) 10 −COOH Erucic acid 34. 7
24:1 (15) −(CH 2 ) 12 −COOH Nervonic acid 42. 5
ω6-Family18:2 (9, 12) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 4 −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 2 −(CH 2 ) 6 −COOH Linoleic acid − 5. 0
18:3 (6,9,12) −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 3 −(CH 2 ) 3 −COOH γ-Linolenic acid
20:4 (5,8,11,14) −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 4 −(CH 2 ) 2 −COOH Arachidonic acid − 49. 5
ω3-Family
18:3 (9, 12, 15) CH 3 −CH 2 −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 3 −(CH 2 ) 6 −COOH α-Linolenic acid − 11. 0
20:5 (5,8,11,14,17) −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 5 −(CH 2 ) 2 −COOH EPAa
22:6 (4,7,10,13,16,19) −(CH=CH−CH 2 ) 6 −CH 2 −COOH DHAa
9-Family
18:1 (9) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 7 −CH=CH−CH 2 −(CH 2 ) 6 −COOH Oleic acid 13. 4
16:1 (9) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 5 − Palmitoleic acid 0. 5
14:1 (9) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 3 − Myristoleic acid
B. Fatty acids with nonconjugated trans-double bonds
18:1 (tr9) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 7 −CHtr=CH−(CH 2 ) 7 −COOH Elaidic acid 46
18:2 (tr9, tr12) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 4 −CHtr=CH−CH 2 −CHtr=CH−(CH 2 ) 7 −COOH Linolelaidic acid 28
C. Fatty acids with conjugated double bonds18:2 (9, tr11) CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 5 −CHtr=CH−CHc=CH−(CH 2 ) 7 −COOH
18:3 CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 3 −CHtr=CH−CHtr=CH−CHc=CH−(CH 2 ) 7 −COOHα-Eleostearic acid 48
(9, tr11, tr13)
18:3 CH 3 −(CH 2 ) 3 −CHtr=CH−CHtr=CH−CHtr=CH−(CH 2 ) 7 −COOHβ-Eleostearic acid 71. 5
(tr9, tr11, tr13)
18:4 CH 3 −CH 2 −(CH=CH) 4 −(CH 2 ) 7 −COOH Parinaric acid 85
(9, 11, 13, 15)b
aEPA: Eicosapentanoic acid, DHA: Docosahexanoic acid.
bGeometry of the double bond was not determined.